Hi Adam. I am getting ready to turn 65 in a few months. I have COPD and emphysema. I have heard something about a special needs Medicare Advantage plan. Any idea what that is?
Medicare Advantage companies will have plans that will require certain conditions that need to be met in order to enroll in them. For example, Medicare Advantage companies will have plans called D-SNPs which require the client to have both Medicare and Medicaid to enroll. They also have plans called C-SNPs which require the client to have specific issues health to enroll. Chronic lung conditions will qualify a person for a C-SNP. These SNP coverages will cover all the basics just as any Medicare Advantage would but they also have extra benefits built-in, like extra hospital days, for example, that help meet the needs of people with these certain conditions.
With that being said, since you are turning 65 you are in your Initial Enrollment period meaning you can get Medicare Supplement with no health questions. This will allow for you to be fully covered after you pay the Part B deductible. You will always have the option to enroll in the C-SNP in the future but because of your lung conditions, you will not be able to get a Medicare Supplement.